Ok all of you, you're going to have to take my word on this one.....
I went down the coast from Sydney to Synergy Yachts - the local yacht dealer for the Macgregor 26. My wife and I looked over the 26M and she fell in love with it (Yay!) but.................better still.......................
There's a 28ft version of the Macgregor 26 coming out in a few weeks in Australia. It's being built by Synergy yachts here in Oz - just south of Brisbane. It's debuting at the Sanctuary Cove Boat Show at the end of May. There's no listing for it yet on their website - but I think it will be the show stopper.
The design has been modified by David Lyons - one of Australia's top yacht designers. It is being built of sandwich foam, which will give it the flotation properties at a lighter weight than the 26x.
Oh, did I mention? It's based on the 26x. Expect a similar layout, with 6'2" headroom through most of the cabin, a swing keel, and better sailing performance. Not to mention the shower!!! The standard outboard rating is said to be 90hp but in the dealer's words - "you could put anything you like on the back".
Starting price? $65K is what they have been selling for off the plan - this is AUD and I don't know what it includes. You can get a single or dual axle trailer with it, and your wheel size is variable (I'm going to pick the same as my Landcruiser). 10 have been sold for a charter market in Thailand, and 7 have been sold locally.
Oh, and the US market - sorry guys and gals. Apparently it is too much competition for the Macgregor 26 - so you won't be seeing it on your shores unless you import it.
It's just a shame I won't be buying it until next year. But doesn't this look like the solution to all the compromises of the 26 X and M?
cheers
Phil.
Synergy 28
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Duane Dunn, Allegro
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Phil Marriott
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Arthur Kelly
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Phil, thanks for the information. It will be real interesting to see what she looks like.
$65,000 AUD converts to about $47,500 USD. Add an engine and shipping costs to the states and you are getting pretty pricey assuming this boat is equipped and constructed like the Mac.
Still, I would love to see line drawings and/or pictures.
$65,000 AUD converts to about $47,500 USD. Add an engine and shipping costs to the states and you are getting pretty pricey assuming this boat is equipped and constructed like the Mac.
Still, I would love to see line drawings and/or pictures.
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Phil Marriott
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I agree - it is getting pricey for export. But for us Aussies it is a relatively inexpensive option - given that the bare (ie $18990 USD factory price) 26M is $49,900 AUD (taxes are pretty steep), the extra might well be worth it. I briefly saw line drawings at the dealer's yard - and hopefully next month I'll get to see one at the factory.
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Arthur Kelly
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Phil Marriott
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Phil Marriott
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Mack 28
Thanks for finding that link! The plans I saw were labelled 'Synergy 28'.
The stern is very full and square - apparently this creates great footroom in the cockpit. The aft berth is slightly smaller than the 26M, with less sitting room available.
It will be nice to see some photos - and I'll try to get some decent line drawings.
I see the builder has produced a couple of Sydney-Hobart entries....
cheers
Phil.
The stern is very full and square - apparently this creates great footroom in the cockpit. The aft berth is slightly smaller than the 26M, with less sitting room available.
It will be nice to see some photos - and I'll try to get some decent line drawings.
I see the builder has produced a couple of Sydney-Hobart entries....
cheers
Phil.
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mike
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Wow, Phil... that boat's interior does indeed look virtually identical to the 26x.
http://www.mackmanboats.com.au/mackman% ... 8_plan.htm
--Mike
http://www.mackmanboats.com.au/mackman% ... 8_plan.htm
--Mike
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Mark Prouty
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8.53 meters = 27.78 feet.
Except for demensions, Roger could have sold them the molds! You'd think the similarity would cause patent problems? It would be great if they were competitively priced here in the states.
Except for demensions, Roger could have sold them the molds! You'd think the similarity would cause patent problems? It would be great if they were competitively priced here in the states.
Last edited by Mark Prouty on Mon Apr 26, 2004 2:30 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Phil Marriott
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I think the answer is that Roger did sell them the concept - and David Lyons modified the design to suit an extra two feet of length, in addition to making it more of a 'yacht' than a powerboat.
Philip King said that they can't export to the US because Macgregor has prevented this (ensuring that they don't compete for market share with the 26M).
Philip King said that they can't export to the US because Macgregor has prevented this (ensuring that they don't compete for market share with the 26M).
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No Fixed Address
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The facts on the Mach 28
Hi All,
The situation is:
The Mackman 28/Mach 28 (temporary name, the production models will have a different one) is based on an entirely new design by David Lyons, one of Australia's leading yacht designers. There is a gap in the Australian market for a quality, roomy keel boat. The keel boat version (suited to our southern waters) will be released simultaneously with the swing keel version which will be suited for the shoal waters of Queensland.
As it is, the concept of the swing keel version is almost identical to the MacGregor 26X although the design is not. In the swing keel version, David Lyons believes that he has overcome the shortcomings of the extremely successful and much loved MacGregor 26X. These include: Lack of an adequate shower area, headroom is 6'2" for the length of the saloon, the 28 is suitable for charter (can be built to survey), the sailing characteristics are improved (especially the rounding up tendency) with a more modern underwaterline profile, the cockpit is wider (and so is the transom), the boat is stiffer, fresh water storage is now 10 to 20 gals, the galley is much longer.
The tooling and manufacture is undertaken by Mackman Boats in Queensland.
The MacGregor 26X proved to be one of the most successful trailerable yachts ever built offering exceptional versatility and accommodation. It has to be the best caravan on the water. It was inevitable that a successor would find its way onto the market. However, the Mackman 28 will never duplicate the MacGregor 26X's success. For one thing, it was never intended that the Mach 28 will be exported to the US as its dimensions do not allow it to be trailered in all US states. Similarly, it will not be available in Europe. The keel version is another matter.
While the Mackman 28 is an exciting project, the commercial viability of the boat is yet to be fully tested. The old saying of "the only way to make a small fortune out of boats is to start with a big one" may yet again be proved true. While there are forward orders off the plan, all sales are subject to proper assesment, including sea trials, which has not been done yet. Deposits are held in escrow (in a trust account) pending this, due 10th - 20th May. Until the project proves itself, there is no project.
Because of the differing construction techniques and production volumes, the MacGregor 26M will be more than a competitor for the Mackman 28 and other similar sized trailerable yachts now available in Australia and elsewhere, based on price alone. Synergy Yachts (Australia) had no choice other than to market the Mackman 28. It already markets MacGregor's yachts, and has to protect its existing market for the MacGregor 26M. It would be commercially foolhardy to allow another group to market the Mackman 28 and perhaps start a pricing war that could destroy the commercial viability of both, leaving owners stranded. The strategy is that Synergy Yachts (Australia) intends to market both products but to differing market sectors, capturing those in the retail market who may reject the MacGregor 26M (for example, the interior layout does not suit all folk) but who can afford the quantum $ leap necessary to buy a Mackman 28, (Similarly equipped MacGregor 26M @ Aus$59K, Mackman 28 after introductory offer expires, @$Aus75K - and believe me, the margins are not that good especially considering the risks involved in marketing boats) and that sector of the wholesale charter market who require a smaller craft (swing or fixed keel, depending on location) built to survey. The boat will specifically directed to the ballooning "backpacker" lower end of the charter market. Commercial groups like sail training schools requiring a roomy, smaller keelboat with rewarding and responsive, (yet forgiving) sailing characteristics will also be attracted to the Mackman 28.
I hope the above gives you a background to the development philosophy and commercial intent of the Mackman 28. Please don't get excited 'cause you will probably never see it in the US - although you never know what Roger MacGregor is cooking up in the back room........
Cheers
Phil King
Synergy Yachts (Australia)
The situation is:
The Mackman 28/Mach 28 (temporary name, the production models will have a different one) is based on an entirely new design by David Lyons, one of Australia's leading yacht designers. There is a gap in the Australian market for a quality, roomy keel boat. The keel boat version (suited to our southern waters) will be released simultaneously with the swing keel version which will be suited for the shoal waters of Queensland.
As it is, the concept of the swing keel version is almost identical to the MacGregor 26X although the design is not. In the swing keel version, David Lyons believes that he has overcome the shortcomings of the extremely successful and much loved MacGregor 26X. These include: Lack of an adequate shower area, headroom is 6'2" for the length of the saloon, the 28 is suitable for charter (can be built to survey), the sailing characteristics are improved (especially the rounding up tendency) with a more modern underwaterline profile, the cockpit is wider (and so is the transom), the boat is stiffer, fresh water storage is now 10 to 20 gals, the galley is much longer.
The tooling and manufacture is undertaken by Mackman Boats in Queensland.
The MacGregor 26X proved to be one of the most successful trailerable yachts ever built offering exceptional versatility and accommodation. It has to be the best caravan on the water. It was inevitable that a successor would find its way onto the market. However, the Mackman 28 will never duplicate the MacGregor 26X's success. For one thing, it was never intended that the Mach 28 will be exported to the US as its dimensions do not allow it to be trailered in all US states. Similarly, it will not be available in Europe. The keel version is another matter.
While the Mackman 28 is an exciting project, the commercial viability of the boat is yet to be fully tested. The old saying of "the only way to make a small fortune out of boats is to start with a big one" may yet again be proved true. While there are forward orders off the plan, all sales are subject to proper assesment, including sea trials, which has not been done yet. Deposits are held in escrow (in a trust account) pending this, due 10th - 20th May. Until the project proves itself, there is no project.
Because of the differing construction techniques and production volumes, the MacGregor 26M will be more than a competitor for the Mackman 28 and other similar sized trailerable yachts now available in Australia and elsewhere, based on price alone. Synergy Yachts (Australia) had no choice other than to market the Mackman 28. It already markets MacGregor's yachts, and has to protect its existing market for the MacGregor 26M. It would be commercially foolhardy to allow another group to market the Mackman 28 and perhaps start a pricing war that could destroy the commercial viability of both, leaving owners stranded. The strategy is that Synergy Yachts (Australia) intends to market both products but to differing market sectors, capturing those in the retail market who may reject the MacGregor 26M (for example, the interior layout does not suit all folk) but who can afford the quantum $ leap necessary to buy a Mackman 28, (Similarly equipped MacGregor 26M @ Aus$59K, Mackman 28 after introductory offer expires, @$Aus75K - and believe me, the margins are not that good especially considering the risks involved in marketing boats) and that sector of the wholesale charter market who require a smaller craft (swing or fixed keel, depending on location) built to survey. The boat will specifically directed to the ballooning "backpacker" lower end of the charter market. Commercial groups like sail training schools requiring a roomy, smaller keelboat with rewarding and responsive, (yet forgiving) sailing characteristics will also be attracted to the Mackman 28.
I hope the above gives you a background to the development philosophy and commercial intent of the Mackman 28. Please don't get excited 'cause you will probably never see it in the US - although you never know what Roger MacGregor is cooking up in the back room........
Cheers
Phil King
Synergy Yachts (Australia)
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Tony D-26X_SusieQ
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